U.S. patent application number 14/300199 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-11 for proportional moving air power transmission and energy collection and control system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jerry Austin Carter. Invention is credited to Jerry Austin Carter.
Application Number | 20140361539 14/300199 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52004831 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140361539 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Carter; Jerry Austin |
December 11, 2014 |
Proportional Moving Air Power Transmission and Energy Collection
and Control System
Abstract
A proportional moving air power transmission and energy
collection and control system includes a fixed vertical spindle, a
vertical rotational hub and a plurality of wings being supported
around the vertical hub in 360.degree.. Each of the wings has a
blunt leading end and a pointy trailing end and defining an outer
surface and an inner surface. In a fully opened position, the
trailing end of each wing is moved away from the vertical hub to a
diameter of the wing assembly to drive the vertical hub to rotate.
In a fully closed position, the wings are overlapped with each
other end-to-end to form a hollow cylinder-like structure to furl,
such that the diameter of the wing assembly is minimized for facing
the wind at all direction.
Inventors: |
Carter; Jerry Austin; (Sana
Ana, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Carter; Jerry Austin |
Sana Ana |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52004831 |
Appl. No.: |
14/300199 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61833272 |
Jun 10, 2013 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
290/44 ; 415/1;
415/163 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F05B 2260/72 20130101;
F03D 7/06 20130101; F05B 2260/76 20130101; F03D 3/065 20130101;
F05B 2260/71 20130101; Y02E 10/74 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
290/44 ; 415/163;
415/1 |
International
Class: |
F03D 3/04 20060101
F03D003/04; F03D 3/00 20060101 F03D003/00; F03D 9/00 20060101
F03D009/00 |
Claims
1. A proportional moving air power transmission and energy
collection and control system, comprising: a tower having an upper
tower section and a lower base section; a hub assembly which
comprises a vertical spindle affixedly provided at said upper tower
section of said tower, a vertical hub coaxially supported to be
rotated about said spindle, and a drive shaft coaxially provided in
said spindle and attached to a top of said vertical hub; a wing
assembly, which is supported at said tower section of said tower,
comprising a plurality of wings, each of said wings having a blunt
leading end and a pointy trailing end and defining an outer surface
and an inner surface; a plurality of wing connection units radially
and outwardly extended from said vertical hub to couple with said
wings respectively so as to support said wings around said hub
assembly in 360.degree., wherein said wing connection units are
actuated to selectively adjust pitches of said wings and to move
said wing assembly between a fully opened position and a fully
closed position, wherein in said fully opened position, said
trailing end of each of said wings is moved away from said vertical
hub to a diameter of said wing assembly to drive said vertical hub
to rotate, wherein in said fully closed position, said wings are
overlapped with each other end-to-end that said trailing end of
said wing is moved to overlap with said leading end of said
adjacent wing to form a hollow cylinder-like structure to furl,
such that the diameter of said wing assembly is minimized for
facing the wind at all direction; and an energy collection unit
located at said base section of said tower and operatively linked
to said vertical hub for transforming said wind energy into a
renewable energy.
2. The system, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said wings
has a width between said inner surface and said outer surface that
said width at said leading end is larger than said width at said
trailing end.
3. The system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said inner surface of
each of said wings has a concave portion extended from said
trailing end and a convex portion extended from said leading end to
said concave portion.
4. The system, as recited in claim 2, wherein said inner surface of
each of said wings has a concave portion extended from said
trailing end and a convex portion extended from said leading end to
said concave portion.
5. The system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said outer surface of
each of said wings is a convex surface.
6. The system, as recited in claim 4, wherein said outer surface of
each of said wings is a convex surface.
7. The system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said hub assembly
further comprises a pitch drive ring coaxially and rotatably
coupled around said vertical hub, wherein each of said wing
connection units is operatively connected to said pitch drive ring
to support said wings around said vertical hub and to selectively
adjust said pitches of said wings.
8. The system, as recited in claim 6, wherein said hub assembly
further comprises a pitch drive ring coaxially and rotatably
coupled around said vertical hub, wherein each of said wing
connection units is operatively connected to said vertical hub and
said pitch drive ring to support said wings around said vertical
hub and to selectively adjust said pitches of said wings.
9. The system, as recited in claim 7, wherein each of said wing
connection units comprises a spoke extended from said vertical hub
to pivotally couple at said corresponding wing to support said wing
around said vertical hub, and a link pivotally extended from said
pitch drive ring to pivotally couple at said corresponding wing to
selectively adjust said pitch of said wing when said pitch drive
ring is rotated around said vertical hub, wherein said spoke is
pivotally connected to said wing close to said leading end thereof
while said link is pivotally connected to said wing close to said
trailing end thereof, so as to selectively adjust said pitch of
said wing.
10. The system, as recited in claim 8, wherein each of said wing
connection units comprises a spoke extended from said vertical hub
to pivotally couple at said corresponding wing to support said wing
around said vertical hub, and a link pivotally extended from said
pitch drive ring to pivotally couple at said corresponding wing to
selectively adjust said pitch of said wing when said pitch drive
ring is rotated around said vertical hub, wherein said spoke is
pivotally connected to said wing close to said leading end thereof
while said link is pivotally connected to said wing close to said
trailing end thereof, so as to selectively adjust said pitch of
said wing.
11. The system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said energy
collection unit comprises an alternator operatively linked to said
vertical hub for transforming mechanical energy produced by said
vertical hub and said wing assembly into an AC electrical energy,
and a control operatively linked to said alternator for converting
said AC electrical energy into a DC electrical energy.
12. The system, as recited in claim 10, wherein said energy
collection unit comprises an alternator operatively linked to said
vertical hub for transforming mechanical energy produced by said
vertical hub and said wing assembly into an AC electrical energy,
and a control operatively linked to said alternator for converting
said AC electrical energy into a DC electrical energy.
13. A method of transforming wind energy into renewable energy via
a proportional moving air power transmission and energy collection
and control system, comprising the steps of: (a) installing a
tower, said tower having an upper tower section and a lower base
section; (b) vertically extending a vertical hub of a hub assembly
from a top of said tower section of said tower; (c) supporting a
plurality of wings of a wing assembly at said tower section of said
tower, each of said wings having a blunt leading end and a pointy
trailing end and defining an outer surface and an inner surface;
(d) radially and outwardly extending a plurality of wing connection
units from said vertical hub to couple with said wings respectively
so as to support said wings around said vertical hub in
360.degree.; (e) in a low-wind environment, moving said wing
assembly in a fully opened position that said trailing end of each
of said wings is moved away from said vertical hub via said wing
connection unit to maximize a diameter of said wing assembly to
drive said vertical hub to rotate; (f) in a high-wind environment,
moving said wing assembly in a fully closed position that said
wings are overlapped with each other end-to-end by overlapping said
trailing end of said wing with said leading end of said adjacent
wing to form a hollow cylinder-like structure to furl, such that
the diameter of said wing assembly is minimized; (g) in a mid-wind
environment, moving said wing assembly between said fully opened
position and said fully closed position to selectively adjust
pitches of said wings in response to a wind speed to drive said the
diameter of said wing assembly is minimized to rotate; and (h)
transforming mechanical energy produced by said vertical hub in
response to said wind into said renewable energy via an energy
collection unit located at said base section of said tower.
14. The method, as recited in claim 13, wherein said step (c)
further comprises the steps of: (c.1) configuring each of said
wings to have a width between said inner surface and said outer
surface that said width at said leading end is larger than said
width at said trailing end; (c.2) configuring said inner surface of
each of said wings to have a concave portion extended from said
trailing end and a convex portion extended from said leading end to
said concave portion; and (c.3) configuring said outer surface of
each of said wings to have a convex surface.
15. The method, as recited in claim 13, wherein said step (b)
further comprises a step of coaxially and rotatably coupling a
pitch drive ring around said vertical hub, wherein each of said
wing connection units is operatively connected to said vertical hub
and said pitch drive ring to support said wings around said
vertical hub and to selectively adjust said pitches of said
wings.
16. The method, as recited in claim 14, wherein said step (b)
further comprises a step of coaxially and rotatably coupling a
pitch drive ring around said vertical hub, wherein each of said
wing connection units is operatively connected to said vertical hub
and said pitch drive ring to support said wings around said
vertical hub and to selectively adjust said pitches of said
wings.
17. The method, as recited in claim 15, wherein said step (d)
further comprises the steps of: (d.1) extending a spoke of each of
said wing connection units from said vertical hub to pivotally
couple at said corresponding wing to support said wing around said
vertical hub; and (d.2) pivotally extending a link of each of said
wing connection units from said pitch drive ring to pivotally
couple at said corresponding wing to selectively adjust said pitch
of said wing when said pitch drive ring is rotated around said
vertical hub.
18. The method, as recited in claim 16, wherein said step (d)
further comprises the steps of: (d.1) extending a spoke of each of
said wing connection units from said vertical hub to pivotally
couple at said corresponding wing to support said wing around said
vertical hub; and (d.2) pivotally extending a link of each of said
wing connection units from said pitch drive ring to pivotally
couple at said corresponding wing to selectively adjust said pitch
of said wing when said pitch drive ring is rotated around said
vertical hub.
19. The method, as recited in claim 13, wherein said step (h)
further comprises the steps of: (h.1) operatively linking an
alternator to said vertical hub for transforming said mechanical
energy produced by said vertical hub into an AC electrical energy;
and (h.2) operatively linking a control to said alternator for
converting said AC electrical energy into a DC electrical
energy.
20. The method, as recited in claim 18, wherein said step (h)
further comprises the steps of: (h.1) operatively linking an
alternator to said vertical hub for transforming said mechanical
energy produced by said vertical hub into an AC electrical energy;
and (h.2) operatively linking a control to said alternator for
converting said AC electrical energy into a DC electrical energy.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a non-provisional application that claims the
benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 to a provisional
application, application No. 61/833,272, filed Jun. 10, 2013.
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material which is to subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent
disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark
Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all
copyright rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to an energy generator, and
more particular to a proportional moving air power transmission and
energy collection and control system, which can operate in any wind
speed, especially in extremely high wind environment, to
efficiently transform wind power into electrical power while being
cost effective.
[0005] 2. Description of Related Arts
[0006] Many periodicals, letters, and books note the negatives for
vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) but seldom identify negatives
for horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT). The existing HAWT has
very long cantilever blades attached on one end only.
[0007] Accordingly, furling refers to storing or securing sails or
flags out of the wind. For turbines, it is the function of shutting
down and turning to reduce damage forces of high winds.
[0008] HAWT furl by braking and stopping the turbine, rotating the
blades to neutral and rotating the complete head, blades and power
house broadside to the wind. The top of a HAWT is very heavy and
does not rotate rapidly. Twenty three of twenty five San Diego Gas
and Electric turbines, fifty miles east of San Diego were damaged
by a seventy mile per hour wind gust that they could not furl fast
enough to avoid.
[0009] Existing horizontal wind turbines have very high maintenance
and capital costs. They are very tall structures and cumbersome.
They are not able to avoid extremely high winds and are often
damaged. In other words, limited sites with consistent high wind is
one of the major drawbacks for the HAWTs. They are inefficient
producing electrical power. HAWTs rotors are mounted on lubricated
steel bearings driving alternators through gear boxes all located
hundreds of feet above ground.
[0010] Horizontal axis wind turbines are very tall with the power
unit over 200 feet high making it very difficult to service. There
are many other problems. HAWTs kill birds. The blades tips for a
one hundred fifty foot blade at only fifteen RPM travel at one
hundred sixty miles per hour and rotate perpendicular to the flow
of the wind, which is typically the direction of bird flight. Birds
traveling twenty miles per hour are boardsided by a blade. At the
blade tip is created a vortex wind of 170 to 200 MPH which damages
the bird's raspatory system and the bird suffers a horrible death.
This vortex is the sound of the turbine.
[0011] The state of the art and design data are incorrect but
followed by manufacturers. Without government incentives,
horizontal turbine costs and high maintenance would prohibit their
use. Many horizontal turbines are dormant since it is too expensive
to repair them.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0012] The invention is advantageous in that it provides a
proportional moving air power transmission and energy collection
and control system, which can operate in any wind speed, especially
in extremely high wind environment, to efficiently transform wind
power into electrical power while being cost effective.
[0013] Another advantage of the invention is to a proportional
moving air power transmission and energy collection and control
system, which provides a pitch control of the wings on a VAWT. In
particular, it is also adapted to furl the wings of the system in
extreme winds and during maintenance. Accordingly, the control
system is arranged to control a variable pitch VAWT according to
various wind conditions in order to harvest maximum energy from the
wind.
[0014] Another advantage of the invention is to a proportional
moving air power transmission and energy collection and control
system, wherein the variable speed alternator produces a constant
grid synchronic voltage and variable current.
[0015] Another advantage of the invention is to a proportional
moving air power transmission and energy collection and control
system, which provides a meteorological monitoring system for
interface with the VAWT pitch control.
[0016] Another advantage of the invention is to a proportional
moving air power transmission and energy collection and control
system which is not based on the data and does not have axle for
HAWT.
[0017] Another advantage of the invention is to a proportional
moving air power transmission and energy collection and control
system, which solves the existing problems of the existing
horizontal wind turbines, including very high maintenance and
capital cost, very tall structures and cumbersome, and
non-operatable in high wind environment.
[0018] Another advantage of the invention is to a proportional
moving air power transmission and energy collection and control
system, wherein wings are attached at both ends requiring less
structure, less weight for comparable structural integrity
comparing to the conventional HAWT which has very long cantilever
blades attached on one end only.
[0019] Another advantage of the invention is to a proportional
moving air power transmission and energy collection and control
system, which improves vertical axis wind turbine design to make a
machine, superior to all other designs, with low cost and near no
maintenance and high efficiency. It can quickly furl to protect it
in extremely high winds.
[0020] Another advantage of the invention is to a proportional
moving air power transmission and energy collection and control
system, which can operate in any wind condition, from 5 MPH to 80
MPH. No erection equipment is required. The present invention makes
relatively little noise and does not kill birds.
[0021] Additional advantages and features of the invention will
become apparent from the description which follows, and may be
realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations
particularly point out in the appended claims.
[0022] According to the present invention, the foregoing and other
objects and advantages are attained by a proportional moving air
power transmission and energy collection and control system,
comprising:
[0023] a tower having an upper tower section and a lower base
section;
[0024] a hub assembly which comprises a fixed vertical spindle
provided at the top of the tower, a vertical hub coaxially
supported to be rotated about the spindle, and a drive shaft
coaxially provided in the spindle and attached to the top of the
hub;
[0025] a wing assembly, which is supported at the tower section of
the tower, comprising a plurality of wings, each of the wings
having a blunt leading end and a pointy trailing end and defining
an outer surface and an inner surface;
[0026] a plurality of wing connection units radially and outwardly
extended from the vertical hub to couple with the wings
respectively so as to support the wings around the vertical hub in
360.degree., wherein the wing connection units are actuated to
selectively and simultaneously adjust pitches of the wings and to
move the wing assembly between a fully opened position and a fully
closed position, wherein in the fully opened position, the trailing
end of each of the wings is moved away from the vertical hub to
maximize a diameter of the wing assembly to drive the vertical hub
to rotate, wherein in the fully closed position, the wings are
overlapped with each other in an end-to-end manner that the
trailing end of the wing is moved to overlap with the leading end
of the adjacent wing to form a hollow cylinder-like structure to
furl; and
[0027] an energy collection unit located at the base section of the
tower and operatively linked to the vertical hub for transforming
the wind energy into a renewable energy.
[0028] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
present invention comprises a method of transforming wind energy
into renewable energy via a proportional moving air power
transmission and energy collection and control system, comprising
the following steps.
[0029] (A) Install a tower on a ground, the tower having an upper
tower section and a lower base section.
[0030] (B) Vertically extend a vertical hub of a hub assembly from
the top of the tower section of the tower.
[0031] (C) Support a plurality of wings of a wing assembly at the
tower section of the tower, each of the wings having a blunt
leading end and a pointy trailing end and defining an outer surface
and an inner surface.
[0032] (D) Radially and outwardly extend a plurality of wing
connection units from the vertical hub to couple with the wings
respectively so as to support the wings around the vertical hub in
360.degree..
[0033] (E) In a low-wind environment, move the wing assembly in a
fully opened position that the trailing end of each of the wings is
moved away from the vertical hub via the wing connection unit to
maximize a diameter of the wing assembly to drive the vertical hub
to rotate.
[0034] (F) In a high-wind environment, move the wing assembly in a
fully closed position that the wings are overlapped with each other
end-to-end by overlapping the trailing end of the wing with the
leading end of the adjacent wing to form a hollow cylinder-like
structure to furl, such that the diameter of the wing assembly is
minimized.
[0035] (G) In a mid-wind environment, move the wing assembly
between the fully opened position and the fully closed position to
selectively adjust pitches of the wings in response to a wind speed
to drive the vertical hub to rotate.
[0036] (H) Transform mechanical energy produced by the vertical hub
in response to the wind into the renewable energy via an energy
collection unit located at the base section of the tower.
[0037] Still further objects and advantages will become apparent
from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
[0038] These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a proportional moving air
power transmission and energy collection and control system
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a wing profile of the
proportional moving air power transmission and energy collection
and control system according to the above preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates the wing assembly in the fully opened
position according to the above preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates the wing assembly being moved between the
fully opened position and the fully closed position according to
the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates the wing assembly in the fully closed
position according to the above preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0044] The following description is disclosed to enable any person
skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. Preferred
embodiments are provided in the following description only as
examples and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the
art. The general principles defined in the following description
would be applied to other embodiments, alternatives, modifications,
equivalents, and applications without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a proportional moving
air power transmission and energy collection and control system
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated, wherein the system of the present invention is adapted
for transforming wind energy into renewable energy.
[0046] The system according to the preferred embodiment is a hub
assembly that spins on a fixed spindle with spokes 41 at the top
and bottom of the machine. Wings very similar to aircraft wings are
attached between these spokes 41 and pivot controlled by a furling
apparatus. The relative light turbine assembly is mounted on a
tower. At the base of the tower, ground level, is the alternator or
any power collection device.
[0047] According to the preferred embodiment, the system, also
refers as a machine, comprises a tower 10, a hub assembly 20, a
wing assembly, a plurality of wing connection units 40, and an
energy collection unit 50. The invention is a vertical wind driven
power collection device with variable pitch wings in place of
blades. The operational principles are based on Bernoulli's
principle instead of Savonius or Darrieus.
[0048] Accordingly, Bernoulli's principle is the concept that an
increase in liquid's speed creates a pressure decrease and a
decrease in a liquid's speed creates a pressure increase.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 1, the tower 10 has an upper tower section
11 and a lower base section 12. Accordingly, the tower section 11
is tubular or lased and is modular with combination
hinge/attachment on each end. The base section 12 of the tower 10
includes attachments for the energy collection unit 50 or other
power generation equipment and the controls. The total tower may be
one section, base, module and top. The tower 10 can be installed on
a ground surface as an example. The tower 10 further comprises a
foundation frame 13 which comprises earth anchors and tower
attachments. The earth anchors on the foundation frame 13 are piers
set in concrete as required by each machine and the soil in which
it is anchored. The base section 12 is pinned in all four corners
to the foundation frame 13. Two or more tower sections 11, as many
as are required, reach the height necessary as pinned in four
corners except for the bottom section which is pinned to the base
section 12 on one side only and laid horizontal for assembly. The
two pins constitute a hinge Accordingly, when the tower 10 is
installed at a ridgeline, the tower 10 can be, for example, twenty
feet tall. When the tower 10 is installed on the ground level, the
tower 10 can be forty feet tall or taller. It is worth mentioning
that the tower 10 can be floated on the sea level by providing a
floating mechanism at the base section 12 of the tower 10.
[0050] The hub assembly 20 comprises a fixed spindle 15, a drive
shaft 16 and a vertical hub 21, as shown in FIG. 1. The fixed
spindle 15 is vertically extended to the top of the upper tower
section 11 of the tower 10. The drive shaft 16 connects the
vertical hub 21 at the top of the tower 10 to the energy collection
unit 50 in the lower base section 12 of the tower 10.
[0051] The fixed spindle 15 is made of thick wall tube and includes
bearing race rings near each end thereof. An attachment is welded
on one end of the spindle 15 with a large hole in the middle. The
other end of the spindle is affixed by welding to the top end of
the tower section 11. The top section of the spindle 15 is pinned
on all four corners. Angular thrust bearing assemblies are attached
to the top section of the spindle 15.
[0052] The vertical hub 21 is made of a thin wall large diameter
tube. Upper and lower receiver hubs are respectively affixed by
welding at two ends of the vertical hub 21 with the number of
receiver sockets for the spokes 41 of the machine. A cap covers one
end for attachments for the angular thrust bearing assemblies.
Attachments at each end of the hub 21 are for radial bearings. A
flat bearing race is affixed by welding to the cover. Port holes
are in the side of the vertical hub 21 to access the bearings.
[0053] The vertical hub 21 is installed over the spindle 15. The
drive shaft 16 with a slip joint and universal joints one each end.
The hollow drive shaft 16 is attached to the top cover of the
vertical hub 21. The drive shaft 16 transmits the rotational motion
from the vertical hub 21 and the wing assembly to the energy
collection unit 50. Accordingly, the control 52, including remote
control sensors, is connected with an electric cable through the
hollow drive shaft 16.
[0054] The hub assembly 20 further comprises a pitch drive ring 22
coaxially and rotatably coupled around the vertical hub 21, and a
bearing ring 23 coaxially coupled between an outer surface of the
vertical hub 21 and an inner surface of the pitch drive ring 22. An
angular roller including bearings is mounted in an angular bracket.
A straight sided roller including bearings is mounted in a bracket.
The side bearings are installed through the access ports. The
bearing ring 23 and pitch drive ring 22 are installed on top of the
lower receiver hub of the vertical hub 21.
[0055] The pitch drive ring 22 is made in two 180-degrees segments,
attachable. The inner diameter of the pitch drive ring 22 is larger
than the outer diameter of the vertical hub 21. Preferably, the
inner diameter of the pitch drive ring 22 is the same as the outer
diameter of the vertical hub 21 plus a minimum of a one inch. The
outer diameter of the pitch drive ring 22 is larger than the inner
diameter of the pitch drive ring 22. Preferably, the outer diameter
of the pitch drive ring 22 is equal to the inner diameter of the
pitch drive ring 22 plus at least four inches. A number of holes
equidistant around the pitch drive ring 22 are drilled and taped.
An additional hole is drilled and taped between two of the other
holes.
[0056] The bearing ring 23 is made of plastic bearing material with
the inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of the vertical hub
21. The outer diameter of the bearing ring 23 is the same as the
inner diameter of the pitch drive ring 22. A ridge on the inner
diameter of the bearing ring 23 centers the pitch drive ring 22.
The bearing rings 23 enables the pitch drive ring 22 to rotate
around the vertical hub 21 smoothly.
[0057] The wing assembly, which is supported at the tower section
11 of the tower 10, comprises a plurality of wings (or blades) 30.
Each of the wings 30 has a blunt leading end 31 and a pointy
trailing end 32 and defining an outer surface 33 and an inner
surface 34. The preferred number of wings 30 is eight and may be
any number. The outer surface 33 of the wing 30 faces away from the
hub assembly 20 and the inner surface 34 of the wing 30 faces
toward the hub assembly 20.
[0058] FIG. 2 is the wing profile preferred. The wing 30 with an
overall curved cord. The underside is primarily concave. A portion
of the underside is convex from the leading end 31 and a minor
portion is convex at the trailing end 32. The leading end 31 is
blunt. The wing 30 is thick with a continuous curve over the top
camber to the trailing end 32. The length of the wing 30 may be any
length. The preferred length is two to four times the width. The
wing 30 reduced to practice is forty-two inches wide and 144 inches
long. The wing point A and the link attachment point B are provided
at the wing 30. The wing 30 is truly a high lift or aircraft type
wing. Generally, the outer surface 33 of the wing 30 is a convex
surface and the inner surface 34 of the wing 30 is a concave
surface.
[0059] In particular, the width of each of the wings 30 is defined
between the inner surface 34 and the outer surface 33 that the
width at the leading end 31 is larger than the width at the
trailing end 32. The inner surface 34 of each of the wings 30 is
configured to have a concave portion 341 extended from the trailing
end 32 and a convex portion 342 extended from the leading end 31 to
the concave portion 341. Alternatively, the inner surface 34 of
each of the wings 30 can be a flat and non-curved surface extended
between the leading end 31 and the trailing end 32. The outer
surface 33 of each of the wings 30 is configured to have a convex
surface. The curvature of the outer surface 33 of each of the wings
30 is different from the curvature of the concave portion 341 of
the inner surface 34 of each of the wings 30. In other words, the
wings 30 have an airfoil shape that a streamlined cross section
shape to produce a lift to drag ratio.
[0060] According to the Bernoulli's principle, the shape of each of
the wings 30 causes to travel for a longer period at the outer
surface 33 from the leading end 31 to the trailing end 32, causing
air to travel faster, reducing the air pressure and creating lift,
as compared to the distance traveled, the air speed and the air
pressure experienced at the inner surface 34 of the wing 30. In
other words, when the air flow passes through the wing assembly, a
pressure difference is created at each of the wings 30 to drive
vertical hub 21 to rotate. Therefore, the pressure difference
results in a driving force to drive the wing assembly to rotate
around the hub assembly.
[0061] Each of the wings 30 has a predetermined height, i.e. the
vertical height parallel to the vertical axis of the vertical hub
21. When the wing 30 has a dimension of 12 feet long and 3.5 wide,
10 kilowatt of electrical energy can be generated. When wing 30 has
a dimension of 82 feet long and 20 wide, 1 megawatt of electrical
energy can be generated.
[0062] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the wing connection units 40 are
radially and outwardly extended from the vertical hub 21 to couple
with the wings 30 respectively so as to support the wings 30 around
the vertical hub 21 in 360.degree., wherein the wing connection
units 40 are actuated to selectively adjust pitches of the wings 30
and to move to the wing assembly between a fully opened position
and a fully closed position.
[0063] In a low-wind environment, such as the wind speed at 5 to 6
MPH, the wing assembly is moved in the fully opened position, as
shown in FIG. 3. In a high-wind environment, such as the wind speed
at 60 to 70 MPH, the wing assembly is moved in the fully closed
position, as shown in FIG. 5. In a mid-to-high wind environment
(normal condition), the wing assembly is moved between the fully
closed position and the fully opened position, as shown in FIG. 4.
The pitches of the wings 30 are selectively adjusted between the
fully closed position and the fully opened position. Preferably,
the wing assembly is optimized to operate with the wind speed about
20 to 30 MPH. It is worth mentioning that the wing assembly of the
present invention can work at all directions of wind.
[0064] Accordingly, in the fully opened position, the trailing end
32 of each of the wings 30 is moved away from the vertical hub 21
to maximize the diameter of the wing assembly to drive the vertical
hub 21 to rotate. The wings 30 are fully opened to enable the wings
30 to collect great amount of wind via the inner surfaces 34 of the
wings 30.
[0065] In the fully closed position, the wings 30 are overlapped
with each other end-to-end that the trailing end 32 of the wing 30
is moved to overlap with the leading end 31 of the adjacent wing 30
to form a hollow cylinder-like structure to furl, such that the
outer surfaces 33 of the wings 30 are maximized. In other words,
the wings 30 are closed to produce a solid cylindrical object since
the wings 30 slightly overlap to minimize the diameter of the wing
assembly. The preferred turbine furls the most efficient wings 30.
The wings 30 may be designed to form a smooth sided cylindrical
object and spaced to furl so that the wings 30 align along the
periphery of the wing assembly.
[0066] Accordingly, the wing connection units 40 can pivot the
wings 30 which overlap each other to producing a reduced diameter
round object. Since each wing 30 is light, it pivots rapidly and is
able to furl in a very short time. Since the wing assembly can
close up in high winds, it is not necessary to close completely
allowing it to produce power in high winds. A control, monitors the
wind conditions and adjusts the wings accordingly, regardless of
wind intensity. As long as the present invention is built to
withstand high winds, there is no reason not to draw power from it.
However, the existing HAWTs shut down at the wind speed of 28 MPH.
The present invention never shuts down.
[0067] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, each of the wing connection units
40 is coupled at the inner surface 34 of the wing 30. In
particular, each of the wing connection units 40 comprises a spoke
41 extended from the vertical hub 21 to pivotally couple at the
corresponding wing 30 to support the wing 30 around the vertical
hub 21, and a link 42 pivotally extended from the pitch drive ring
22 to pivotally couple at the corresponding wing 30 to selectively
adjust the pitch of the wing 30 when the pitch drive ring 22 is
rotated around the vertical hub 21.
[0068] Accordingly, the spoke 41 is tubular strong enough and long
enough for the size of the machine. There are anchor holes in one
end and a bearing socket in the other end. The inner end of each of
the spokes 41 is affixed to the vertical hub while an outer end of
each of the spokes 41 is pivotally connected to the corresponding
wing 30 close to the leading end 31 thereof. In particular, the
outer end of each of the spoke 41 is pivotally connected at the
wing point A of the corresponding wing 30. Preferably, the spokes
41 are threaded onto each end of the wing 30. The assemblies are
then plugged into the upper and lower receiver hubs of the vertical
hub 21. The spokes 41 are fastened with bolts.
[0069] The link 42 is tubular of sufficient length and strength for
the size of the machine. There are bearing sockets at each end on
the same plane. The inner end of each of the links 42 is pivotally
connected to the pitch drive ring 22 while the outer end of each of
the links 42 is pivotally connected to the corresponding wing 30
close to the trailing end 32 thereof. In particular, the outer end
of each of the links is pivotally connected to the link attachment
point B of the corresponding wing 30 to selectively adjust the
pitch of the wing 30.
[0070] Accordingly, when the pitch drive ring 22 is rotated at one
direction, the links 42 are actuated to pull the trailing ends 32
of the wings 30 toward the vertical hub 21. Therefore, by
controlling the angular movement of the pitch drive ring 22, the
trailing ends 32 of the wings 30 are pulled to overlap with the
leading ends 31 of the consequent wings 30 so as to move the wing
assembly in the fully closed position. It is worth mentioning that
the inner surface 34 of the wing 30 at the trailing end 32 thereof
is overlapped and contacted with the outer surface 33 of the
adjacent wing 30 at the leading end 31 thereof. In other words, the
inner surfaces 34 of the wings 30 are hidden within hollow
cylinder-like structure to prevent any wind directly exerting on
the inner surfaces 34 of the wings 30. As a result, the wings 30
will form the hollow cylinder-like structure to furl. The wings 30
are required to close completely to furl but may open at different
pitches.
[0071] When the pitch drive ring 22 is rotated at an opposite
direction, the links 42 are actuated to push the trailing ends 32
of the wings 30 away from the vertical hub 21. Therefore, by
controlling the angular movement of the pitch drive ring 22, the
trailing ends 32 of the wings 30 are pushed until the wings 30 are
fully extended from the vertical hub 21. The maximum of the wing 30
is the length of the link 42 being radially extended from the pitch
drive ring 22 as shown in FIG. 3. It is worth mentioning that the
system of the present invention may be equipped with 8 wings, 16
wings, or 24 wings in its present configuration.
[0072] Furthermore, the pitches of the wings 30 are selectively
adjusted by the angular movement of the pitch drive ring 22.
Through the pitch drive ring 22, the wings 30 are moved in a
synchronized manner. In other words, the wings 30 are moved
concurrently with the same pitch and all change pitches of the
wings 30 the same simultaneously. It is appreciated that the wings
30 may be pitched individually with pneumatics, hydraulics or
mechanical screw driver or any other drive system. For example, a
plurality of pitch drive rings 22 are provided at the vertical hub
21 to operatively link to the links 42 respectively. Therefore,
each of the pitch drive rings 22 is controllably rotated to
selectively adjust the pitch of the particular wing 30. Many change
pitch according to a cam sequentially.
[0073] The wings pitch is variable and by control based on various
input data, the wings 30 are pitched proportional to wind
conditions as determined by a control system.
[0074] This pitch control maximizes the power transmission frame
the air flow around and through it. The pitch is proportional to
the wind speed, air temperature and humidity, density, and hub
assembly rotational speed.
[0075] Accordingly, the present invention is assumed by some
critics inherently inefficient since during rotation, half of the
wing assembly is traveling with the wind and half of the wing
assembly is traveling against the wind. In other words, numbers of
wings 30 are traveling with the wind and numbers of wings 30 are
traveling against the wind. However, it is an advantage. As any
sailor or aviator would recognize, the wing angular to the wind
produces lift and in this case, drive. The side rotating with the
wind produces less power. On the other hand, HAWTs actually require
input power to start the rotors turning in order to produce the
lift in conjunction with the wind to produce power. Therefore, the
system of the present invention does not require any initial power
to start the rotation of the vertical hub 21.
[0076] A study by O. Agren and M. Legion of the American Institute
of Physics addresses this phenomenon for open VAWTS. The system is
closed resulting in low speed high torque like a Savonius turbine
and high speed efficiency of a Darreius turbine making this design
omni-directional and self starting requiring no external power to
operate.
[0077] Again, HAWTs are not omni-directional as VAWTs are. The
blades, rotor, and power house of the HAWT must rotate to face the
wind to operate. HAWTs produce a vortex in the wind causing
buffeting and turbulence following the turbine. The flow through
the invention is laminar, slightly pulsed and quickly smoothed with
no vortex.
[0078] The wing connection units 40 further comprises a linear
actuator 43 attached to one spoke 41, wherein the linear actuator
43 with sufficient strength and stroke. The rod is attached to the
additional hole on the pitch drive ring 22. A counterweight 44 of
the same weight as the linear actuator 43 to balance the linear
actuator 43.
[0079] The energy collection unit 50 is located at the base section
12 of the tower 10 and is operatively linked to the vertical hub 21
for transforming the wind energy into the renewable energy.
[0080] The energy collection unit 50 comprises an alternator 51
operatively linked to the vertical hub 21 for transforming
mechanical energy produced by the vertical hub 21 and the wing
assembly into an AC electrical energy, and a control 52 operatively
linked to the alternator for converting the AC electrical energy
into a DC electrical energy.
[0081] The alternator 51 has many coils and magnets in a large
diameter layout. It is modular and may be made up of several
sections. The alternator 51 may be driven through a gear box, fluid
transmission or as preferred, directly. It may be any diameter with
any pick up coils and magnets, the preferred is permanent magnets
and coreless coils.
[0082] The control 52 converts power produced by the alternator 51
from AC current to DC current to AC grid synchronism current. The
control 52 includes wiring, recording equipment and various sensing
devices providing intelligence to the control. The electrical
energy produced by the wind driven alternator 51 is also controlled
by the control 52. The control 52 will control the pitches of the
wings 30 via the angular movement of the pitch drive ring 22 by
detecting the wind speed, air temperature and humidity, density,
and hub rotational speed via different environmental sensors. The
pitches of the wings 30 can also be determined from the alternator
51 to calculate the wind speed and rotational speed of the vertical
hub 21.
[0083] An erection apparatus is used to erect the machine by
rotating the horizontal tower on the hinge pins to vertical and
pinned. The control cable is threaded through the alternator 51.
The drive shaft 16 is attached to the alternator 51.
[0084] A mercury rotary contactor 17 is provided at the bottom end
of the drive shaft 16, wherein a control cable is connected to the
mercury rotary contactor 17 which is attached to the bottom of the
alternator 51. The other end of the mercury rotary contractor 17 is
connected to the control 52. Lights and/or strobes 18 are attached
at the outer ends of the spokes 41.
[0085] Magnetic levitation bearings 19 may be used by removing the
cover on the top end of the vertical hub 21, remove the angular
bearings assembly and replace them with magnetic levitation
bearings 19. Magnetic levitation bearings 19, which are the
bearingless magnetic levitation bearings, are also mounted on the
hub cover. The cover is attached to the top end of the vertical hub
21. Attachments are mainly nut and bolts. The magnetic levitation
for thrust bearings is preferred at the top or end of the spindle
15. The thrust bearing may be of any design and located at the top,
anywhere in the middle or at the bottom.
[0086] The rotation speed causing centrifugal force on the wings is
not difficult to design for, since the rotational speed is not
great, especially for large turbines. The megawatt turbine is
expected to have a sixty foot diameter. According to the research,
a floating turbine, that is; a turbine producing no power
consequently, no load, rotates with a peripheral speed about 25%
greater that the wind speed. The sixty foot diameter turbine has
188.5 foot circumference. In a 100 mile per hour wind, the rotor
would turn at fifty eight RPM. Under load, producing power, the
rotational speed would be thirty RPM.
[0087] Accordingly, the wind energy can be further transformed into
heat energy for storage. The heat energy can be stored in a thermal
battery assembly which comprises a ceramic tank containing molten
salt. It is worth mentioning that solid salt is an insulator,
however, the molten salt is conductor. The molten salt at
1000.degree. C. will be stored in the ceramic tank to store the
thermal energy. The thermal battery assembly, having the tank 80
feet in diameter by 30 feet tall, would store 100 megawatt of
electrical energy for 4 hours. It is known that 3413 BTUs equals 1
KWhr. Base on 90% efficiency, 100 MW for four hours equals
1,516,888,888 BTUs. The volume of the tank is 150796.32 cubic feet.
Salt weight 48 pounds per cubic feet so there is 7,238,223.3 pounds
of salt in the tank. The temperature differential between cold and
hot is 278.degree. C. or 501.degree. F. 1,516,888K BTUs/151K cubic
feet=10,046 BTUs per cubic foot or 36.14 BTUs per degree C. or
20.05 BTUs per degree F. Also, one pound of salt equals 209.29 BTUs
in this scenario. With this scenario, renewables could replace
nuclear and coal.
[0088] NASA has caused there to be thermal insulators capable of
30,000 Fahrenheit insulation, the infamous tiles on the underside
of space shuttles. This kind of material can insulate the stored
molten salt so that very little of the energy is lost due to
storage. Useful thermal storages can remain for weeks. This study
is based on the Crescent Dunes Energy Project near Tonopah,
Nev.
[0089] More importantly, the thermal battery assembly can be
transported from places to places easily. Therefore, even though
the system of the present invention is located away from the
designated location, the thermal battery assembly can be
transported from the location where the system is to the designated
location.
[0090] This machine requires a major manufacturing facility to
produce the one megawatt machines which is the preferred size.
Assembly and installation is described above. It is worth
mentioning that the system of the present invention is closed and
very visible and rotating about the vertical hub 21 with a
peripheral speed slightly faster than the wind. The system of the
present invention does not kill birds. In fact, swallows have
nested and raised a family in the cooling blower of the prototype.
The system of the present invention is light at the top allowing
assembly on the ground and erection with self contained rigging. On
the other hand, HAWTs require huge cranes and expensive equipment
to construct and service the machine. The system of the present
invention floats on magnetic levitation, no bearing is required.
Also, no maintenance is required. The system of the present
invention transmits power through the vertical hub 21 and drive
shaft 16 to a large diameter alternator at ground level without a
gear box. As a result, no maintenance is required the gear box-less
system. It is developed a power regulator controller applicable to
any size turbine. It is also developed a modular alternator
allowing for manufacturing of three sizes of modules that can be
used on any size turbines of 1 KW through 10 KW, 10 KW through 100
KW, and 100 KW through 1 MW, in conjunction with the regulator to
produce power AC or DC 24 Volt to 4160 Volt, all without a speed
increasing gear box.
[0091] This is an energy device harvesting electrical, fluid or
mechanical power from the wind. The problem is insufficient
electrical energy produced to make the USA energy independent and
reduce fossil fuel use, coal, oil, gas, and nuclear for electrical
energy in the USA as well as the world.
[0092] One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment
of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described
above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
[0093] It will thus be seen that the objects of the present
invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The
embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of
illustrating the functional and structural principles of the
present invention and is subject to change without departure from
such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all
modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *